Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, has made it clear that Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Aston Villa is a must-win game if his side are to arrest their alarming run of form. The warning comes in the wake of his heavily criticised selection in the Carabao Cup fourth-round exit, where Liverpool fielded a largely rotated squad and were thumped 3-0 by Crystal Palace.
The pressure mounting
Liverpool’s defeat at Anfield to Crystal Palace — their sixth loss in seven matches in all competitions — has piled new pressure on Slot and his squad. The league champions find themselves in unfamiliar territory, with questions being asked about selection, squad depth and the psychological impact of repeated poor results.
Slot, speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Aston Villa, admitted that the current period is “not normal for Liverpool”, and emphasised that while there are mitigating factors (injuries, fixtures, rotation) he does not accept them as excuses for the run of defeats.
Why Sunday’s game matters
Aston Villa arrive at Anfield having shown signs of momentum under their manager, and Slot acknowledged that the contrast between the two clubs’ trajectories adds to the urgency. “We are both on similar points, but they’ve picked up in the last five, six games,” he said. “…With us the run is already quite long.”
For Liverpool, a victory is more than three points. It would be a reset — a chance to halt the slide, rebuild confidence and show that the squad still has the quality to deliver when it matters. Slot stated: “Our focus is now on how we get a very good performance on Saturday. Because normally, a good performance from these quality players leads to a good result.”
What happened in the Carabao Cup and why the selection matters
Slot’s decision to rest many senior players in the Cup tie was pre-explained as a deliberate prioritisation, but the outcome has raised eyebrows. The team he selected was described by some critics as more akin to a development side than a title-challenger’s first team.
Slot defended his call: “It felt the right decision… With our starters we haven’t been able to beat Palace as well.” He said he had 15-16 senior players available and pointed out that the congested schedule — three games in seven days — required measured use of resources. However, the defeat means the selection must now be viewed not just as a strategic choice, but as one that further exposed vulnerabilities — and put additional pressure on the Villa game.
Injuries, fatigue and squad depth
One of the key points Slot emphasised was the impact of injuries and lack of pre-season preparation for some players. In his press conference, he referenced Alexander Isak — who arrived late and missed three months — as an example of how physical readiness is impacting his squad.
Slot said: “What was a bit different… is that last season they all had one year of Premier League experience as a minimum and they were fit when we started and they stayed fit. Now they weren’t all fit from the start…” This kind of admission indicates that beyond tactics and selection, the context of wear-and-tear and squad availability is playing a part.
Still, Slot was clear to downplay the notion of excuses: “It’s not an excuse for us.” He added: “We have still more than enough good players available to play the game on Saturday.”
Style, identity and adaptation
Liverpool’s recent issues are not purely physical or scheduling-based, according to Slot. He defended the team’s style of play, rejecting calls for a full tactical overhaul despite conceding that certain areas (notably set-pieces and early goals conceded) need improvement. “I don’t see a reason to change our playing style completely,” he said.
This implies that Slot trusts his philosophy and believes the foundation is still sound. But the challenge now is translating that belief into results — and quickly.
What Slot must deliver against Aston Villa
Going into the Villa fixture, Slot has multiple objectives:
Restore confidence: A convincing performance will show the players believe in the process and each other.
Show the right mentality: After repeated losses, a mental reset is necessary — not just for individual games, but for the season.
Manage resources smartly: With key players returning (such as Ryan Gravenberch) yet others still sidelined, finding the right balance is critical.
Execute the game-plan: Set-pieces, defensive resilience and not falling behind early were flagged by Slot as issues. Addressing them is essential.
Use the moment: The Villa game presents a prime opportunity to arrest the slide. Defeat would deepen the crisis.
The wider implications
While Liverpool’s board are reportedly not considering drastic moves just yet, the magnitude of the slump means that each upcoming fixture carries extra weight. Slot himself admitted that talks over his own contract are “the last question I was expecting”, and stressed that the only priority now is winning again.
Were Liverpool to lose again, the narrative would shift from concern to crisis. Conversely, a strong showing and three points against Villa could serve as the catalyst for a turnaround.
Final word
Arne Slot has made his position plain: Saturday’s game against Aston Villa is not simply important — it is essential. After a disastrous Carabao Cup exit and a sequence of defeats that does not align with Liverpool’s standards, the time for justification has passed. The focus is on action.
If Liverpool deliver a convincing performance and result, the tide may begin to turn. If not, the pressure will deepen and the questions will become harder to evade. For Slot and his team, there may be no more forgiving fixtures than this.
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